Photoresist composition for deep ultraviolet lithography

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a photoresist composition comprising a photoacid generator and at least one novel polymer comprising at least one unit as described by structure 1,  
                 
 
     where, either  
     (i) R1 is an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, and R f  is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl, or a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or  
     (ii) R1 and R2 combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R f  is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl and a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or  
     (ii) R1 and R f  combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5; and,  
     R3 and R4 are independently H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, R3 and R4 may combine to form an alkylspirocyclic or a fluoroalkylspirocyclic group,  
     X is selected from (C1-C8)alkylene, (C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, O(C1-C8)alkylene, O(C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, cycloalkyl and fluorinatedcycloalkyl,  
     R5 is H or an acid labile group, m=0-1, and p=1-4.  
     The invention also relates to a process for imaging the photoresist composition of the present invention.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel photoresist composition that is particularly useful in the field of microlithography, and especially useful for imaging positive patterns in the production of semiconductor devices. The photoresist resin composition comprises a polymer or a mixture of polymers in which fluoro-alcohol moieties on an aliphatic cyclic fluorinated polymer are fully or partially protected with an alkyloxycarbonylalkyl (AOCA) protecting group, a photoactive component, and optionally, a base additive. The resin of the novel photoresist has high transparency in the deep ultraviolet (uv) region, and such a composition is especially useful for exposure at 193 nanometers (nm) and 157 nm. The invention further relates to a process for imaging the novel photoresist.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Photoresist compositions are used in microlithography processes for making miniaturized electronic components such as in the fabrication of computer chips and integrated circuits. Generally, in these processes, a thin coating of film of a photoresist composition is first applied to a substrate material, such as silicon wafers used for making integrated circuits. The coated substrate is then baked to evaporate any solvent in the photoresist composition and to fix the coating onto the substrate. The photoresist coated on the substrate is next subjected to an image-wise exposure to radiation.

[0003] The radiation exposure causes a chemical transformation in the exposed areas of the coated surface. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light, electron beam and X-ray radiant energy are radiation types commonly used today in microlithographic processes. After this image-wise exposure, the coated substrate is treated with a developer solution to dissolve and remove either the radiation exposed or the unexposed areas of the photoresist.

[0004] The trend towards the miniaturization of semiconductor devices has led to the use of new photoresists that are sensitive at lower and lower wavelengths of radiation and has also led to the use of sophisticated multilevel systems to overcome difficulties associated with such miniaturization.

[0005] The present photoresist compositions are positive-working photoresist, i.e. when they are exposed image-wise to radiation, those areas of the photoresist composition exposed to the radiation become more soluble to the developer solution (e.g. a rearrangement reaction occurs) while those areas not exposed remain relatively insoluble to the developer solution. Thus, treatment of an exposed positive-working photoresist with the developer causes removal of the exposed areas of the coating and the formation of a positive image in the photoresist coating. Again, a desired portion of the underlying surface is uncovered.

[0006] Photoresist resolution is defined as the smallest feature which the resist composition can transfer from the photomask to the substrate with a high degree of image edge acuity after exposure and development. In many leading edge manufacturing applications today, photoresist resolution on the order of less than 100 nm are necessary. In addition, it is almost always desirable that the developed photoresist wall profiles be near vertical relative to the substrate. Such demarcations between developed and undeveloped areas of the resist coating translate into accurate pattern transfer of the mask image onto the substrate. This becomes even more critical as the push toward miniaturization reduces the critical dimensions on the devices.

[0007] Photoresists sensitive to short wavelengths, between about 100 nm and about 300 nm are often used where subhalfmicron geometries are required. Particularly preferred are photoresists comprising non-aromatic polymers, a photoacid generator, optionally a dissolution inhibitor, and solvent.

[0008] High resolution, chemically amplified, deep ultraviolet (100-300 nm) positive and negative tone photoresists are available for patterning images with less than quarter micron geometries. To date, there are three major deep ultraviolet (uv) exposure technologies that have provided significant advancement in miniaturization, and these use lasers that emit radiation at 248 nm, 193 nm and 157 nm. Photoresists for 248 nm have typically been based on substituted polyhydroxystyrene and its copolymers, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,628 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,660. On the other hand, photoresists for exposure below 200 nm require non-aromatic polymers since aromatics are opaque at this wavelength. U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,624 and GB 2320718 disclose photoresists useful for 193 nm exposure. Generally, polymers containing alicyclic hydrocarbons are used for photoresists for exposure below 200 nm. Alicyclic hydrocarbons are incorporated into the polymer for many reasons, primarily since they have relatively high carbon:hydrogen ratios which improve etch resistance, they also provide transparency at low wavelengths and they have relatively high glass transition temperatures. U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,624 discloses polymers for photoresist that are obtained by free radical polymerization of maleic anhydride and unsaturated cyclic monomers, but the presence of maleic anhydride makes these polymers insufficiently transparent at 157 nm.

[0009] Two basic classes of photoresists sensitive at 157 nm, and based on fluorinated polymers with pendant fluoroalcohol groups, are known to be substantially transparent at that wavelength. One class of 157 nm fluoroalcohol photoresists is derived from polymers containing groups such as fluorinated-norbornenes, and are homopolymerized or copolymerized with other transparent monomers such as tetrafluoroethylene (Hoang V. Tran et al Macromolecules 35, 6539, 2002, WO 00/67072, WO 00/17712) using either metal catalyzed or radical polymerization. Generally, these materials give higher absorbances but have good plasma etch resistance due to their high alicylic content. More recently, a class of 157 nm fluoroalcohol polymers was described in which the polymer backbone is derived from the cyclopolymerization of an asymmetrical diene such as 1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene (Shun-ichi Kodama et al Advances in Resist Technology and Processing XIX, Proceedings of SPIE Vol 4690 p76 2002; WO 02/065212) or copolymerization of a fluorodiene with an olefin (WO 01/98834-A1). These materials give acceptable absorbance at 157 nm, but due to their lower alicyclic content as compared to the fluoro-norbornene polymer, have lower plasma etch resistance. These two classes of polymers can often be blended to provide a balance between the high etch resistance of the first polymer type and the high transparency at 157 nm of the second polymer type.

[0010] However, an important limitation to any of these approaches is the availability of a suitable protecting group for fluoroalcohols. In almost all of these approaches, the acid labile protecting groups for the fluoroalcohol moiety has been mainly limited in scope to either acetal type (e.g. MOM (methoxymethyl), or tertiaryalkyoxycarbonyl (eg. T-BOC (tert-butyloxycarbonyl) or tertiary alkyl protecting groups. These protecting groups on the perfluoroalcohol moiety are relatively unstable and often undergo partial or complete deprotection during polymerization.

[0011] The difficulty in protecting the fluoroalcohol functionality, and the resultant loss of the unexposed photoresist film, has meant that the acid labile functionality can often only be attached to either a methacrylate, acrylate, or norbornenecarboxylic acid repeat unit (which are deleterious to transparency at 157 nm) or to a dissolution inhibitor additive (WO 00/67072, WO 00/17712 Hoang V. Tran et al Macromolecules 35, 6539, 2002). The objective of this invention is to provide a protecting group which would confer good transparency at 157 nm, and would possess high thermal stability towards both synthetic and photoresist processing conditions.

[0012] The inventors of this application have found that, surprisingly, aliphatic cyclic polymers can have their fluoroalcohol moieties easily functionalized with an alkyloxycarbonylalkyl(AOCA) group and that this group provides these types of resins with surprising advantages for photoresist applications.

[0013] The AOCA group, particularly the tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl (BOCME) group, has had some prior use as a substituent in pharmaceutical applications (WO9533753, DE 2460537). It has also been employed in resist applications where the BOCME group is attached to a phenolic moiety in a resin or as small molecule dissolution inhibitor, and used with radiation at i-line (JP 09211865), 248 nm (JP 20011312065, US6333436B1, US6369276, JP 08193055) or electron beam and X-ray (JP 2000-376059). In addition, at 248 nm, it also been employed to protect phenolic resins (JP 08176051). Additionally, the BOCME group has been used to protect some specific monomers for 157 nm photoresists. US 2002/090572 A1 and US2002/0081520 A1 discuss the use of BOCME protected hexafluorobisphenol-A in silsesquioxane based polymers and copolymers, which, however, are very absorbent at 157 nm. Additionally, the use of the BOCME group to protect fluoroalcohol moieties attached to cyclic or alicyclic polymer repeating units are disclosed in WO 02/44811 A2 and EP 1,275,666. In WO 01/74916A1, the abstract discloses a polymer having one segment with an acid decomposable group, one segment derived from a fluoroacrylate and another segment derived from other copolymerizable monomer, and the patent application discloses a large variety of possible polymers. In WO 02/44811 A2, the BOCME group is used to protect a norbornenefluoroalcohol group, however, the polymer is used in a blend with a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer.

[0014] Fluorinated analogs of BOCME (e.g.—FC(CH₃)CO₂t-Bu) have been described as substituents for phenol moieties in applications such as herbicides (EP0044979). US 2002/0061416 discloses the functionalization of the fluorinated analogue of the BOCME group, but on an acrylate monomer.

[0015] The present inventors have found that when the AOCA group is used to protect fluoroalcohol moieties it is unexpectedly found to possess higher stability towards thermal cleavage than the t-BOC group or the MOM protecting group. Generally, from a photoresist standpoint, such an increase in thermal stability of the protected fluoroalcohol imparted by use of AOCA, particularly the BOCME group, is desirable as it increases thermal processing latitude and shelf life. Also, from a synthetic standpoint, such a increase in thermal stability is desirable as it helps to increase the yield of protected fluoroalcohol polymers, whether they are made by protection of pre-formed fluoroalcohol polymers or through polymerization of monomers containing a fluoroalcohol bearing polymer protected by AOCA groups. Surprisingly, despite its high thermal stability, the BOCME protecting group, in particular, can be easily removed by photoreleased acid in the exposed resist areas, requiring standard post-exposure bake temperatures to affect cleavage (1100 C-130° C.). It has also been found by the applicants that the functionalization of perfluoroalcohols with AOCA groups results in higher contrast photoresist systems than using tert-butyl carboxylates of photoresist resins containing norbornene-5-carboxylic acid repeat units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention relates to a photoresist composition comprising a photoacid generator and at least one novel polymer comprising at least one unit as described by structure 1,

[0017] where, either

[0018] (i) R1 is an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, R2 is selected from H, F, (C₁-C₈)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, and R_(f) is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl, or a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or

[0019] (ii) R1 and R2 combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R_(f) is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl and a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or

[0020] (ii) R1 and R_(f) combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5; and,

[0021] R3 and R4 are independently H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, R3 and R4 may combine to form an alkylspirocyclic or a fluoroalkylspirocyclic group,

[0022] X is selected from (C1-C8)alkylene, (C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, O(C₁-C8)alkylene, O(C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, cycloalkyl and fluorinatedcycloalkyl,

[0023] R5 is H or an acid labile group, m=0-1, and p=1-4.

[0024] The invention also relates to a process for imaging the photoresist composition of the present invention, especially at 157 nm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention relates to a novel photoresist composition comprising a photoacid generator and at least one novel polymer comprising at least one unit of an aliphatic cyclic fluoroalcohol group functionalized with an alkyloxycarbonylalkyl group, as described by structure 1,

[0026] where, either

[0027] (i) R1 is an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, and R_(f) is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl, or a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or

[0028] (ii) R1 and R2 combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R_(f) is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl and a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or

[0029] (ii) R1 and R_(f) combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5; and,

[0030] R3 and R4 are independently H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, R3 and R4 may combine to form an alkylspirocyclic or a fluoroalkylspirocyclic group,

[0031] X is selected from (C1-C8)alkylene, (C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, O(C₁-C8)alkylene, O(C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, cycloalkyl and fluorinatedcycloalkyl,

[0032] R5 is H or an acid labile group, m=0-1, and p=1-4.

[0033] This composition is particularly useful for imaging in the range of 100-300 nm, and more particularly for 157 nm and 193 nm, and even more particularly for 157 nm. The invention further relates to a process for imaging the novel photoresist, particularly at wavelengths in the range 100 nm-200 nm, and more particularly for imaging at 193 nm and 157 nm.

[0034] In the present application, the functionality alkyloxycarbonylalkyl (AOCA) is represented by —(CR3R4)p-CO—O—R5, and the functionality referred to as the aliphatic cyclic fluoroalcohol is represented by R1(X)mC(R_(f)R2)O—H, as shown in structure 1. Typically, the aliphatic cyclic fluoroalcohol is reacted with a compound capable of providing the AOCA group to form the novel polymer comprising at least one unit of structure 1.

[0035] The polymer of the invention may be alkali insoluble or essentially alkali insoluble, i.e. when R5 is an acid labile group. Alternatively, the polymer of the invention may be alkali soluble, i.e. when R5 is hydrogen. When the polymer is alkali soluble a dissolution inhibitor is required to make the unexposed area insoluble to the developer. However, when the polymer has an acid labile group, then during exposure the photoacid generator forms an acid, which further cleaves the R5 group either by acidolysis or hydrolysis to give a polymer which is now essentially alkali soluble. Examples of acid labile groups, without limitation, are secondary and tertiary alkyls (up to 20 carbon atoms) with at least one β hydrogen, acetals and ketals, trimethylsilyl, and β-trimethylsilyl substituted alkyls. Representative examples of acid labile groups are tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, isobornyl, 1-alkylcyclohexyl, 1-alkylcyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 2-alkyl-2-admantyl, 2-alkyl-2-norbornyl. Other examples of acid labile groups are tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, substituted or unsubstituted methoxycarbonyl, β-trialkylsilylalkyl groups (e.g. CH₂—CH₂Si(CH₃)₃, CH(—CH₂Si(CH₃)₃)₂, CH₂—CH(Si(CH₃)₃)₂ and the like).

[0036] The polymer of this invention comprises at least one unit of structure 1, where the unit comprises at least one nonaromatic aliphatic cyclic group which is part of the polymer backbone and which may be monocyclic or multicyclic. Aliphatic cyclic groups are important since they provide the necessary dry etch resistance to the photoresist. The AOCA group is pendant from an aliphatic cyclic group which may be multicyclic or monocyclic. In one embodiment of the invention R1 is a multicyclic or a monocyclic unit which is part of the polymeric backbone. In another embodiment R1 and R2 or R1 and R_(f) combine to form a multi or monocyclic unit, which is part of the polymeric backbone.

[0037] Typically multicyclic groups are those derived from the norbornene based monomers, and examples of such multicyclic monomers that may be used to form the polymer of the present invention are represented in FIG. 1.

[0038] The multicyclic monomers of FIG. 1 are generic structures of the multicyclic monomers which are polymerized alone or with other monomers to give directly the polymer of the invention or polymerized to give the free fluoroalcohol bearing multicyclic polymer which can then be capped with the AOCA group.

[0039] Typically such multicyclic monomers are polymerized with an active metal catalyst, a palladium or nickel complex, such as described in Hoang V. Tran et al Macromolecules 35 6539, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference. For the capping of the fluoroalcohol groups, examples of compounds that can provide the AOCA group are, without limitation, t-butyl bromoacetate, t-butyl chloroacetate, t-butyl mesyloxyacetate, t-amyl bromoacetate, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl bromoacetate, 2-methyl-2-norbornyl bromoacetate, t-butyl 3-bromopropanoate, t-butyl-2-bromo-2,2-difluorobutanoate.

[0040] The multicyclic unit of FIG. 1 is substituted such that within the polymer at least one unit has the structure 1, but the cyclic group may also have other substituents. Typical substituents are H, F, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, fluorocycloalkyl, and cyano. Additionally, as referred to within FIG. 1, R1 and R2 or R5 and R4 or R6 and R7 substituents may together be part of a spiroalkyl or fluorospiroalkyl subsituent.

[0041] In the above definition and throughout the present specification, alkyl means linear or branched alkyl having the desirable number of carbon atoms and valence. Suitable linear alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, etc.; branched alkyl groups include isopropyl, iso, sec or tert butyl, branched pentyl etc. Fluoroalkyl refers to an alkyl group which is fully or partially substituted with fluorine, examples of which are trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, perfluoroisopropyl, 2,2,2-trifluroethyl, and 1,1-difluoropropyl. Alkylene refers to methylene, ethylene, propylene, etc. Alkylspirocyclic or fluoroalkylspirocyclic are cyclic alkylene structures connected to the same carbon atom, preferably where the ring contains from 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and further where the ring may have substituents, such as F, alkyl, and fluoroalkyl. Cycloalkyl or cyclofluoroalkyl are defined as aliphatic mono or multi cyclic rings containing carbon atoms and attached to a carbon atom, preferably cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, norbornyl, adamantyl, etc., where the ring may be further substituted with fluorine, alkyl subsituents or fluoroalkyl substituents.

[0042] More specifically, examples of preferred norbornene monomers containing the t-butoxycarbonylmethyl (BOCME) protecting group with the t-butyl acid labile group are shown below in FIG. 2, although other acid labile groups or where R5 from structure 1 is hydrogen, may also be used.

[0043] In addition to where R1 is the multicyclic unit in the polymer backbone, monocyclic repeat units may also be used, although multicyclic units are preferred in some cases. The monocyclic unit can have a ring structure where the number of atoms in the ring ranges from about 4 to about 10, preferably from 5 to about 8, and more preferably from about 5 to about 7.

[0044] In another embodiment, the substituents R1 and R2, or R1 and R_(f) in Structure 1 may also combine to give an aliphatic cyclic polymer, where m=0 or 1, i.e. X may or may not be present as part of the ring structure. The polymeric cyclic backbone may be hydrocarbon, or may additionally contain fluorinated substituents. The monocyclic units may additionally contain oxygen within the cyclic structure. Generally polymers having monocyclic repeat units can be made by using radical initiators either in bulk or in a solvent from suitable monomers, for example, by homopolymerization of an unconjugated diene or by the copolymerization of a unconjugated diene with an olefin (For examples of such polymerization methods see “Cyclopolymerization and Polymers with Chain Ring Structures, ACS Symposium Series 195 Edited by George Butler and Jiri E. Kresta, Chapter 2, 3 and 4). Such techniques could be used to form polymers with monocyclic backbones having the alcohol functionality either attached to the backbone or as part of a pendant group as shown in FIG. 3. Possible substituents on the cyclic structure may be selected from fluorine, alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, alicyclic, or fluorinated alicyclic groups.

[0045] More specifically, the monocyclic polymers of the present invention could be made by radical homopolymerization of unconjugated asymmetrical partially fluorinated dienes or by copolymerization of a fluorinated unconjugated diene with an olefin, using a radical initiator either in bulk or in a solvent. (For examples of such polymerization reactions see Shun-ichi Kodama et al Advances in Resist Technology and Processing XIX, Proceedings of SPIE Vol 4690 p76 2002; WO 02/065212, or WO 01/98834-A1). In this manner the desired materials could either be made directly or through the intermediacy of a fluoroalcohol bearing polymer which could then be capped with the AOCA group.

[0046] Examples of alcohol or fluoroalcohol sustituents or substituents containing moieties which are pendant from the cyclic moiety and which the AOCA group can protect are for example, without limitation: R1OH, R1 OCH₂(CF₂)_(n)OH (n=1-8), R1O(CF₂)_(n)OH (n=1-8), R1C(C_(n)F_(2n+1))₂OH (n=1-8), R1OCH₂(C_(n)F_(2n+1))₂OH (n=1-8), R1CH₂(C_(n)F_(2n+1))₂OH (n=1-8).

[0047] Typical examples of aliphatic partially fluorinated monocyclic monomers having pendant alcohol groups are described in FIG. 4, where the alcohol groups are further reacted with a reactant that can provide the AOCA group, preferably a reactant containing the BOCME functionality, to give the polymer of the present invention.

[0048] The polymer of the present invention comprises at least one unit of the structure 1. The polymer is preferably synthesized by polymerizing a monomer containing the monocyclic or multicyclic fluoroalcohol functionality, and further reacting the formed polymer with a compound containing the AOCA group, although it is within the scope of the present invention that the AOCA capped monomer may be polymerized to give the polymer of the present invention.

[0049] It is within the scope of this invention, and preferred, that the polymer (homopolymer or copolymer with multicyclic or monocyclic repeat units) is only partially capped with the AOCA group, thus leaving some of the alcohol groups free and/or some of the hydroxyl groups capped with a group that is not acid labile, such as straight chain alkyl groups.

[0050] The polymer may be a homopolymer or may also be a copolymer, where other monomers are also incorporated into the polymer. Examples of other monomers having multicyclic repeat units are norbornene, norbornene derivatives capped with tert-butoxycarboxyl or alkoxycarbonyl, other nonaromatic aliphatic cyclic monomers and their derivatives, cyclic fluoralcohols, etc. Additionally for polymers having multicylic repeat units other units derived from fluorinated or partially fluorinated olefins may also be present. Monocyclic polymers comprising at least one unit of the structure 1 may also contain other repeat units derived from substituted unconjugated dienes and or substituted olefins, which are fully or partially fluorinated.

[0051] The preferred multicyclic polymers are those derived from monomers of the type illustrated in structure I or II of FIG. 1, in which the fluoroalcohol moiety is protected with 2-100% AOCA groups. The preferred monocyclic polymers are polymers as described in FIG. 4, and more preferably poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-fluoroalkyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) (as in FIG. 4(l)) protected with 2-100% of the AOCA group. The photoresist composition can comprise a mixture of polymers of the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] It is also within the scope of this invention that the polymer of the present invention is present in a blend with other secondary polymers. These secondary polymers may be polymers with no acid labile groups, polymers with other acid labile groups that are not AOCA but may have acetal protecting groups such as MOM or acid cleaveable alkoxycarbonyl (e.g. tert-butoxycarboxyl, t-BOC), or other polymers or copolymers. Preferably the polymers of this invention are used without secondary polymers.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment the composition of the present invention comprises a photoacid generator and a polymer mixture of an aliphatic monocyclic polymer of this invention with an aliphatic multicyclic polymer of this invention, preferably, a blend of poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) protected with an AOCA group with poly(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) protected with the AOCA group, and more preferably where the capping of the polymer with the AOCA group is in the range of 2-40%, and even more preferably where the AOCA group is the BOCME group.

[0054] In another preferred embodiment the polymer mixture comprises only a multicyclic polymer or only a monocyclic polymer of the present invention.

[0055] It is within the scope of the present invention that more than one AOCA group could be present on the same aliphatic cyclic unit, or that a mixture of AOCA and another acid labile group be present on the same aliphatic cyclic unit. It is envisaged that two BOCME or AOCA groups can be present on the same carbon atom (i.e. C(OC(R′)₂CO₂-t-Bu)₂).

[0056] Preferred embodiments of the resin composition are as follows: poly(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) protected with 5-100% BOCME group, poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) protected with 5-100% BOCME group and a blend of (5-95 weight %) of poly(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) protected with 5-100% BOCME group mixed with poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) protected with 5-100% BOCME group. More preferably the extent of protection of the polymer by the BOCME group is in the range from about 9% to about 40%.

[0057] The extent of funtionalization of the polymer with the AOCA group or the extent of blending with other polymers is determined by the lithographic properties of the photoresist, in particular the level of acceptable loss of the unexposed photoresist film (dark film loss) in the developer, phase compatibility, etc. Typically the degree of functionalization can range from about 1 mole % to about 100 mole %, and preferably from about 9 mole % to about 40 mole %.

[0058] The polymers of this invention comprise one or more units that contain an AOCA protecting group. Upon exposure the AOCA protecting group undergoes acidolysis or hydrolysis to form a free carboxylic acid, thereby making the polymer soluble in the alkali developer for a positive photoresist. The polymer may be capped with a protecting group after polymerization or the monomer(s) may be capped with a protecting group and then polymerized. The polymer may also be inhibited by a dissolution inhibitor, and upon exposure the photoresist then becomes soluble in the developer. Typically dissolution inhibitors are added to the photoresist to decrease the dissolution rate of the unexposed photoresist in the developer. A polymer of this invention, where R5 is hydrogen, as shown in structure 1, would be alkali soluble and is useful when mixed with a dissolution inhibitor and a photoacid generator. Examples of known dissolution inhibitors that may be used are monomeric or oligomeric cholates, photoactive compounds which also act as dissolution inhibitors, such as diarylliodonium or triphenylsulfonium salts of strong acids in which one or more of the aryl group has either a hydroxyl subsituent, a carboxylic acid substituent, or a perfluoroisopropylalcohol substituent protected with a group susceptible to acidolysis by the release of a photoacid.

[0059] Transparency of the polymers in a photoresist is an important requirement. Thus, the absorption coefficient of the resin film is less than 4/micron at the exposure wavelength, typically 157 nm, preferably 3/micron and more preferably less than 2/micron and even more preferably less than 1/micron.

[0060] It is preferred if the polymers employed in such formulations have a weight average molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 200,000, preferably from about 4,000 to about 20,000, more preferably from about 6,000 to about 14,000.

[0061] The photoacid generator (PAG) of the novel composition is selected from those which absorb at the desired exposure wavelength, preferably 193 nm and 157 nm. Suitable examples of the acid generating photosensitive compounds include, without limitation, ionic photoacid generators (PAG), such as diazonium salts, iodonium salts, sulfonium salts, or non-ionic PAGs such as diazosulfonyl compounds, sulfonyloxy imides, and nitrobenzyl sulfonate esters, although any photosensitive compound that produces an acid upon irradiation may be used. The onium salts are usually used in a form soluble in organic solvents, mostly as iodonium or sulfonium salts, examples of which are diphenyliodonium trifluoromethane sulfonate, diphenyliodonium nonafluorobutane sulfonate, triphenylsulfonium trifluromethane sulfonate, triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutane sulfonate and the like. Other compounds that form an acid upon irradiation that may be used, are triazines, oxazoles, oxadiazoles, thiazoles, substituted 2-pyrones. Phenolic sulfonic esters, bis-sulfonylmethanes, bis-sulfonylmethanes or bis-sulfonyldiazomethanes, triphenylsulfonium tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide, triphenylsulfonium bis(trifloromethylsulfonyl)imide, diphenyliodonium tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide, diphenyliodonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and their homologues are also possible candidates

[0062] FIG. 4 shows examples of PAG structures, such as onium salts and hydroxyamic derivatives which are useful.

[0063] The photoresist of the present invention comprises the novel polymer, a photoacid generator, and optionally a base additive. In some cases bases or photoactive bases are added to the photoresist to control the profiles of the imaged photoresist and prevent surface inhibition effects, such as T-tops. Nitrogen containing bases are preferred, specific examples of which are amines, such as triethylamine, triethanolamine, aniline, ethylenediamine, pyridine, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide or its salts. Examples of photosensitive bases are diphenyliodonium hydroxide, dialkyliodonium hydroxide, trialkylsulfonium hydroxide, etc. The base may be added at levels up to 100 mole % relative to the photoacid generator. Although, the term base additive is employed, other mechanisms for removal of acid are possible, for instance by using tetraalkylammonium salts of volatile acids (eg. CF₃CO₂ ⁻) or nucleophilic acids (eg Br⁻), which respectively remove acid by volatilization out of the film during post-exposure bake or by reaction of a nucleophilic moiety with the acid precursor carbocation (e.g. reaction of tert-butyl carbocation with bromide to form t-butylbromide).

[0064] FIG. 5 shows the structures of ammonium derivatives which might be employed as bases.

[0065] The use of non volatile amine additives is also possible. Preferred amines would be ones having a sterically hindered structure so as to hinder nucleophilic reactivity while maintaining basicity, low volatility and solubility in the resist formulation, such as a proton sponge, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]-5-nonene, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]-7-undecene, cyclic akylamines, or polyether bearing amines such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,286.

[0066] Furthermore, it is within the scope of this invention that the photoresist further comprises dissolution inhibitors. Thus, BOCME or AOCA groups could be employed without a protective acid labile moiety, that is where R5 is hydrogen (e.g. —CH₂CO₂H). In one embodiment the carboxylic acid could be present with another unit with the AOCA protecting group and used to regulate the dissolution rate of the photoresist. In this concept the amount of AOCA containing units would be determined by the need to maintain low dark erosion while increasing the dissolution rate in the exposed areas. Typically, dissolution inhibitors are added to the photoresist to decrease the dissolution rate of the unexposed photoresist in the developer.

[0067] The photoresist composition is formed by blending the ingredients in a suitable photoresist solvent. In the preferred embodiment, the amount of polymer in the photoresist preferably ranges from 90% to about 99.5% and more preferably from about 95% to about 99% based on the weight of the solid; i.e., non-solvent photoresist components. In the preferred embodiment, the photoactive compound is present in the photoresist in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 10% preferably from about 4% to about 6% based on the weight of the solid photoresist components. In producing the photoresist composition, the solid components of the photoresist are mixed with a solvent or mixtures of solvents such as propylene glycol mono-alkyl ether, propylene glycol alkyl ether acetate, butyl acetate, xylene, 1,3-di(trifluoromethyl)benzene, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol mono-methyl ether acetate, 2-heptanone, ethyl lactate, ethyl-3-ethoxypropionate, and mixtures of ethyl lactate and ethyl-3-ethoxypropionate, among others.

[0068] The prepared photoresist composition solution can be applied to a substrate by any conventional method used in the photoresist art, including dipping, spraying, whirling and spin coating. When spin coating, for example, the photoresist solution can be adjusted with respect to the percentage of solids content, in order to provide coating of the desired thickness, given the type of spinning equipment utilized and the amount of time allowed for the spinning process. Suitable substrates include silicon, aluminum, polymeric resins, silicon dioxide, doped silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, tantalum, copper, polysilicon, ceramics, aluminum/copper mixtures; gallium arsenide and other such Group 111N compounds. The photoresist may also be coated over antireflective coatings.

[0069] The photoresist composition solution is then coated onto the substrate, and the substrate is treated at a temperature from about 70° C. to about 1 50° C. for from about 30 seconds to about 180 seconds on a hot plate or for from about 15 to about 90 minutes in a convection oven. This temperature treatment is selected in order to reduce the concentration of residual solvents in the photoresist, while not causing substantial thermal degradation of the solid components. In general, one desires to minimize the concentration of solvents and this first temperature treatment is conducted until substantially all of the solvents have evaporated and a thin coating of photoresist composition, on the order of half a micron (micrometer) in thickness, remains on the substrate. In a preferred embodiment the temperature is from about 95° C. to about 160° C., and more preferably from about 95° C. to about 135° C. The treatment is conducted until the rate of change of solvent removal becomes relatively insignificant. The temperature and time selection depends on the photoresist properties desired by the user, as well as the equipment used and commercially desired coating times. The coating substrate can then be imagewise exposed to actinic radiation, e.g., ultraviolet radiation, at a wavelength of from about 100 nm (nanometers) to about 300 nm, x-ray, electron beam, ion beam or laser radiation, in any desired pattern, produced by use of suitable masks, negatives, stencils, templates, etc.

[0070] The photoresist is then subjected to a post exposure second baking or heat treatment before development. The heating temperatures may range from about 90° C. to about 160° C., more preferably from about 100° C. to about 130° C. The heating may be conducted for from about 30 seconds to about 5 minutes, more preferably from about 60 seconds to about 90 seconds on a hot plate or about 15 to about 45 minutes by convection oven.

[0071] The exposed photoresist-coated substrates are developed to remove the image-wise exposed areas by immersion in a developing solution or developed by spray, puddle or spray-puddle development process. The solution is preferably agitated, for example, by nitrogen burst agitation. The substrates are allowed to remain in the developer until all, or substantially all, of the photoresist coating has dissolved from the exposed areas. Developers include aqueous solutions of ammonium or alkali metal hydroxides or supercritical carbon dioxide. One preferred developer is an aqueous solution of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide. Surfactants may also be added to the developer composition. After removal of the coated wafers from the developing solution, one may conduct an optional post-development heat treatment or bake to increase the coating's adhesion and chemical resistance to etching conditions and other substances. The post-development heat treatment can comprise the baking of the coating and substrate below the coating's softening point or UV hardening process. In industrial applications, particularly in the manufacture of microcircuitry units on silicon/silicon dioxide-type substrates, the developed substrates may be treated with a buffered, hydrofluoric acid etching solution or preferably, dry etching. In some cases metals are deposited over the imaged photoresist.

[0072] Each of the documents referred to above are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, for all purposes. The following specific examples will provide detailed illustrations of the methods of producing and utilizing compositions of the present invention. These examples are not intended, however, to limit or restrict the scope of the invention in any way and should not be construed as providing conditions, parameters or values which must be utilized exclusively in order to practice the present invention.

EXAMPLES Glossary

[0073] TGA thermogravimetric analysis

[0074] UV ultraviolet

[0075] MOM methoxymethyl

[0076] MeOH methanol

[0077] mmol millimole ie 10⁻³ moles

[0078] BOCME (tert-butoxycarbonyl)methyl

[0079] t-BOC tert-butoxycarbonyl

[0080] THP tetrahydropyranyl

[0081] PAG photoacid generator

[0082] IPA isopropyl alcohol

[0083] THF tetrahydrofuran

[0084] TMAH tetramethylammonium hydroxide

[0085] t-BuOK potassium tert-butoxide

[0086] BHTTP 3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol,

[0087] CMAdOM Carb-2-methyl-2adamantyloxymethyl,

[0088] PBTTP Poly(3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol), purchased from Promerus LLC 9921 Brecksville Road, Bldg B, Brecksville Ohio 44141

[0089] PTHH 1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene PPTH H poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) which is a mixture of 5 and 6 membered rings, purchased from Asahi Glass Co, LTD, 2-1-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8305 Japan,

Example 1

[0090] Table 1 shows the TGA onset of deprotection of MOM and t-boc compared to that found for the deprotection with the BOCME group on representative examples of polymers (FIG. 6) belonging to the two classes of cyclic fluoroalcohol bearing polymer described earlier.

TABLE 1 Onset of deprotection of polymers I and II with various protecting groups* Protecting Polymer Onset of group (% protection) Deprotection (° C.) BOCME II (30%) 174 BOCME  I (30%) 206 T-BOC  I (30%) 120 MOM II (20%) <100

[0091] Table 1 clearly shows that polymers with the BOCME group thermally deprotect at a higher temperature than the same polymer with the t-boc and MOM groups

Example 2

[0092] The contrasts of resists were measured by coating them at a thickness of 1350 A (Angstroms) and after exposure using an open frame reticle baking and developing the film and measuring the normalized thickness as a function of dose. The contrast is taken from the slope of plot of normalized thickness versus log(dose). Processing conditions were as follows:

[0093] The exposures were done an Exitech 157 nm small field (1.5_(—)1.5 mm2) mini-stepper (0.6 NA) using open frame exposure reticle at International SEMATECH in Austin. An FSI Polaris 2000 track was used to coat, bake, and develop the resist films. A Prometrix interferometer was used to measure resist thickness.

[0094] The photoresist formulations preparation and resultant contrasts are as follows:

[0095] By mixing the following dry ingredients poly(tert-Butyl Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylate-co-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)pent-4-en-2-3-(Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) (75.3%) poly(tert-Butyl 3-(trifluoromethyl)tricyclo[4.2.1.02,5]non-7-ene-3-carboxylate-co-carbon monoxide (18.8%), triphenylsulfonium nonaflate (5.6%) and tetramethyammonium acetate (0.3%) as a 10% solution in propyleneglycol methylether acetate gives contrasts of 6-7 while similar formulations containing as dry ingredients 93% poly(1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)pent-4-en-2-3-(Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl) functionalized with BOCME (20% protection) (93% solids), triphenylsulfonium nonaflate (5.6%) and tetramethylammonium acetate (0.5%) typically give contrasts of ˜12-25 using different PAB's (from 135-150° C.) or PEB (115-150) and developments times of 30 seconds with 0.26 N tetramethylammonium hydroxide.

Example 3 Synthesis of BOCME Protected Poly(3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) Using t-BuOK

[0096] Poly(3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) (PBHTTP) (4.0 g, 14.59 mmol) was dissolved into 15 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF), and solid t-BuOK (0.491 g, 4.38 mmol) was added while stirring. After 30 minutes, t-butyl bromoacetate (1.71 g, 8.76 mmol) was added to this reaction solution which was stirred for 16 hours at 25° C. After removal of the solvent using a rotary evaporator, the resultant residue was dissolved in 20 ml of methanol (MeOH) containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was then precipitated in 180 ml of water-methanol (8:1). The polymer was isolated by filtration and further purified by dissolving it into MeOH and re-precipitating it in the water-methanol mixture. The final precipitate was then filtered, washed with water and dried overnight under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C. The isolated yield of polymer was 91%. The presence of t-butyl and methylene groups were confirmed by ¹H-NMR (ppm, acetone-d₆) δ 1.48 (9H, t-butyl) and δ4.27 (2H, —CH₂—COO—). The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 24 mole %.

Example 4 Synthesis of BOCME protected Poly(3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) using TMAH.5H₂O

[0097] PBHTTP (4.0 g, 14.59 mmol) was dissolved in 15 ml of THF and solid TMAH.5H₂O (0.793 g, 4.38 mmol) was added while stirring. After 30 minutes, t-butyl bromoacetate (1.71 g, 8.76 mmol) was added to this solution which was stirred for another 16 hours at 25° C. The precipitate formed in the reaction mixture was removed by filtration. The resultant filtrate was stripped of solvents in a rotary evaporator. The resultant residue was redissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was precipitated in 180 ml of water-methanol (8:1) mixture. The polymer was isolated by filtration and further purified by dissolving it into MeOH and re-precipitating it in the water-methanol mixture. The final precipitate was then filtered, washed with water and dried overnight under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C. The isolated yield of polymer was 91%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 28 mole

Example 5 Synthesis of BOCME protected PBHTTP using 25% aqueous TMAH

[0098] PBHTTP (4.0 g, 14.59 mmol) was dissolved in 15 ml of THF and 25% aqueous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) (1.6 g, 4.38 mmol) was added while stirring. After 30 minutes, t-butyl bromoacetate (1.71 g, 8.76 mmol) was added to this reaction solution which was stirred for 16 hours at 25° C. After removal of the solvent using a rotary evaporator, the resultant residue was dissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was then precipitated in 180 ml of water-methanol (8:1) mixture. The polymer was isolated by filtration and further purified by dissolving it into MeOH and re-precipitating it in the water-methanol mixture. The final precipitate was then filtered, washed with water and dried overnight under vacuum (25” Hg) at 55° C. The isolated yield of polymer was 92%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 21 mole %.

Example 6 Synthesis of BOCME Protected PBHTTP using 25% TMAH in MeOH

[0099] PBHTTP (4.0 g, 14.59 mmol) was dissolved in 15 ml of THF and the 25% TMAH in methanol (1.6 g, 4.38 mmol) was added while stirring. After 30 minutes, t-butyl bromoacetate (1.71 g, 8.76 mmol) was added to this reaction solution which was stirred for 16 hours at 25° C. After removal of the solvent using a rotary evaporator, the resultant residue was dissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was then precipitated in 180 ml of water-methanol (8:1). The polymer was isolated by filtration and further purified by dissolving it into MeOH and re precipitating it in the water-methanol mixture. The final precipitate was then filtered, washed with water and dried overnight under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C. The isolated yield of polymer was 90%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 22 mole %.

Example 7 Synthesis of BOCME protected PBHTTP using K₂CO₃ and 18-crown-6 Ether

[0100] A solution was prepared in a small round bottomed flask consisting of the PBHTTP (2.0 g, 7.29 mmol), t-butyl bromoacetate (1.42 g, 7.29 mmol), and 18-crown-6 ether (0.19 g, 0.73 mmol) dissolved in 6 ml of dry THF under nitrogen equipped with a reflux column, a magnetic stirring bar and a heating mantle. To this solution was added anhydrous K₂CO₃ (1.26 g) and the solution was vigorously stirred overnight, while under reflux. After this time the reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate was stripped of solvents in a rotary evaporator. The filtrate was then re-dissolved into 40 ml of ethyl acetate and washed with several 10 ml aliquots of distilled water until a neutral pH was detected in the water washings. The washed ethyl acetate solution was stripped of solvents in a rotary evaporator and further dried under 1 torr of vacuum at 35° C. for an hour producing a hard foam. This foam was re-dissolved in 30 ml of THF and precipitated into 300 ml of distilled water. This material was filtered, washed with distilled water and air dried for an hour. The recovered material was re-precipitated in the same fashion two more times. The final precipitate was then dried under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C., overnight. The isolated yield of the polymer was 62%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection of the polymer with BOCME group was found to be 100 mole

Example 8 Synthesis of poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) from its Methoxymethyl Derivative

[0101] Ten grams of poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) protected with 20% of MOM group was dissolved in 30 ml of THF and mixed with 10 ml of trifluoroacetic acid and 7.5 ml of water. This homogeneous solution was stirred overnight at room temperature. After reaction the solvents were stripped at 50° C. in a rotary evaporator. The residue was dissolved in 30 ml of IPA and precipitated in 750 ml of cold water. The precipitate was filtered, washed and dried under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C. The isolated yield of the polymer was 98%. NMR analysis confirmed the absence of MOM group.

Example 9 Synthesis of BOCM E protected poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) using t-BuOK

[0102] Poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) (4.0 g, 14.81 mmol) (PPTHH) from Example 8 was dissolved in 15 ml of THF and to this solution was added solid t-BuOK (0.5 g, 4.44 mmol) while stirring. After 30 minutes, of stirring at 25° C., t-butyl bromoacetate (1.74 g, 8.88 mmol) was added to this reaction solution and it was stirred for another 16 hours at 25° C. After this time, the precipitate formed during the reaction was removed by filtration. The resultant filtrate was then stripped of solvent in a rotary evaporator. The residue was re-dissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was then precipitated in 200 ml of 15% MeOH in water. The precipitate was filtered, washed with distilled water and dried. The polymer was further purified by re-dissolving it in MeOH and re-precipitating it in water. After drying under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C., the yield of polymer was 92%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 22 mole %.

Example 10 Synthesis of BOCME Protected PPTHH Using TMAH.5H₂O

[0103] PPTHH (4.0 g, 14.81 mmol) from Example 8 was dissolved in 15 ml of THF and to this solution was added solid TMAH.5H₂O (0.81 g, 4.44 mmol) while stirring. After 30 minutes, of stirring at 25° C., t-butyl bromoacetate (1.74 g, 8.88 mmol) was added to this reaction solution and stirred for another 16 hours at 25° C. After this time, the precipitate formed during the reaction was removed by filtration. The resultant filtrate was then stripped of solvent in a rotary evaporator. The residue was re-dissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. This solution was then precipitated in 200 ml of 15% MeOH in water. The precipitate was filtered, washed with distilled water and dried. The polymer was further purified by re-dissolving it in MeOH and re-precipitating it in water. After drying under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C., the yield of polymer was 92%. The presence of t-butyl (1.48 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection with BOCME group was found to be 23 mole

Example 11 Synthesis of CMAdOM Protected poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene) Using 2-Methyl-2-adamantyl Bromoacetate

[0104] The polymer (2.0 g, 7.4 mmol) from Example 8 was dissolved in 12 ml of THF and TMAH.5H₂O (0.4 g, 2.22 mmol) was added while stirring. After 30 minutes, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl bromoacetate (1.28 g, 4.44 mmol) was added to this reaction solution and stirred for 16 hours at 25° C. The solid formed in the reaction mixture was separated by filtration. The solvent in the filtrate was then stripped of solvent in a rotary evaporator and the residue was dissolved in 20 ml of MeOH containing 1.0 g of concentrated HCl. It was precipitated in 200 ml of 15% MeOH in water. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried. The polymer was further purified by dissolving in MeOH and re-precipitating in water. The polymer was dried under vacuum (25″ Hg) at 55° C. The yield of polymer was 90%. The presence of 2-methyl-2-adamantyl (1.5-2.0 ppm) and methylene (4.27 ppm) groups were confirmed by ¹H NMR. The extent of protection was found to be 25 mole %.

Preparation of Photoresist Solution and Imaging at 157 nm

[0105] The imaging work was done with an Exitech 157 nm small field (1.5 _(—)1.5 mm2) mini-stepper (0.6 NA) using a phase-shift mask (σ0.3) at International SEMATECH in Austin, Tex. A JEOL JWS-7550 was used to obtain scanning electron micrographs. A Hitachi 4500 Microscope was used to obtain cross-sectional data. An FSI Polaris 2000 track was used to coat, bake, and develop the resist films. A Prometrix interferometer was used to measure resist thickness.

Example 12 Resist solution containing PBTTP

[0106] A solution was prepared from 6.58 wt % PBTTP as prepared in example 4, 0.39 wt % triphenylsulfonium triflate, 0.03 wt % tetramethyammonium acetate and 93 wt % propyleneglycolmonomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA). This solution was filtered through a 0.2 micron PTFE filter.

Example 13 Resist solution containing PPTHH

[0107] A solution was prepared from 6.58 wt % PPTHH as prepared in example 10, 0.39 wt % triphenylsulfonium triflate, 0.03 wt % tetramethyammonium acetate and 93 wt % PGMEA. This solution was filtered through a 0.2 micron PTFE filter.

Example 14 Resist Solution Containing a 50/50 Mixture of PBTTP and PPTHH

[0108] A solution was prepared from 3.29 wt % PBTTP, as prepared in example 4, 3.29 wt % PPTHH, as prepared in example 10, 0.39 wt % triphenylsulfonium triflate, 0.03 wt % tetramethyammonium acetate and 93 wt % PGMEA. This solution was filtered through a 0.2 micron PTFE filter.

Example 15 Imaging of Photoresist Solution Containing PBTTP

[0109] The photoresist solution prepared in example 12 was spin coated at 1658 rpm onto separately a bare silicon and a wafer coated with an organic antireflective coating. After post applied bake, 130° C./60s, a thickness of 1350 A resulted. After exposing at 157 nm using an open frame reticle, a post exposure bake of 115C/90s, and a development for 30s in 0.26 N TMAH were applied. This resulted in an exposure response curve from which a clearing dose of 7.2 mJ/cm² and a contrast of 12 was obtained. The wafer coated onto the antireflective coating coated silicon was exposed using a phase shift mask and the same processing conditions to give a resolution of 100 nm for 1:1.5 lines and spaces having a line width of 108 nm and an exposure dose of 51 mJ/cm².

Example 16 Imaging of resist solution containing PPTHH

[0110] The resist solution prepared in example 13 was spin coated at 2220 rpm separately onto a bare silicon and a wafer coated with an organic antireflective coating. After a post applied bake of 150° C./60s a thickness of 1350 A resulted. After exposing at 157 nm using an open frame reticle, a post exposure bake of 135C/90s, and a development for 30s in 0.26 N TMAH, were applied. This resulted in an exposure response curve from which a clearing dose of 8.1 mJ/cm² and a contrast of 12 was obtained. The wafer coated onto the antireflective coating coated silicon was exposed using a phase shift mask and the same processing conditions to give resolution of 100 nm for 1:1.5 lines and spaces having a line width of 73 nm and an exposure dose of 69 mJ/cm².

Example 17

[0111] Imaging of Resist Solution Containing a 50/50 mixture of PBTTP and PPTHH

[0112] The resist solution prepared in example 14 was spin coated at 1801 rpm separately onto a bare silicon and a wafer coated with an organic antireflective coating. After a post applied bake of 150C/60s, a thickness of 1350 A resulted. After exposing at 157 nm using an open frame reticle, a post exposure bake of 135C/90s, and a development of 30s in 0.26 N TMAH, were applied. This resulted in an exposure response curve from which an exposure dose of 10.2 mJ/cm² and a contrast of 10.2 were obtained. The wafer coated onto the antireflective coating coated silicon was exposed using a phase shift mask and the same processing conditions to give resolution of 100 nm for 1:1.5 lines and spaces having a line width of 80 nm and an exposure dose of 81 mJ/cm². 

1. A photoresist composition comprising a photoacid generator and at least one novel polymer comprising at least one unit as described by structure 1,

where, either (i) R1 is an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, and R_(f) is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl, or a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or (ii) R1 and R2 combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and rf is selected from F, H, (C1-C8)alkyl and a fully or partially fluorinated alkyl, and cyclofluoroalkyl, or (ii) R1 and R_(f) combine to form an aliphatic cyclic unit of a polymer, and R2 is selected from H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, and (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5; and, R3 and R4 are independently H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C1-C8)fluoroalkyl, cycloalkyl, cyclofluoroalkyl, (CR3R4)p(CO)OR5, R3 and R4 may combine to form an alkylspirocyclic or a fluoroalkylspirocyclic group, x is selected from (C1-C8)alkylene, (C1-c8)fluoroalkylene, O(C1-C8)alkylene, O(C1-C8)fluoroalkylene, cycloalkyl and fluorinatedcycloalkyl, R5 is H or an acid labile group, m=0-1, and p=1-4.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, where the polymer comprises an aliphatic cyclic fluoroalcohol unit functionalized with an alkyloxycarbonylalkyl group.
 3. The composition according to claim 1, where the cyclic unit is an aliphatic multicyclic unit or an aliphatic monocyclic unit.
 4. The composition according to claim 3, where the multicyclic unit is selected from those derived from the following monomers,

where, in the above structures, R1-R7 are independently H, F, (C1-C8)alkyl, (C₁-C8)fluoroalkyl, etc but at least one of R1-R6 has the pendant oxyAOCA functionality described in structure 1, or an alcohol functionality which can be capped to give the unit of structure
 1. 5. The composition according to claim 3, where the multicyclic unit is selected from those derived from the following monomers,


6. The composition according to claim 3, where the monocyclic unit is derived from functionalizing fluoroalcohols with an AOCA group, and where the fluoroalcohols are selected from
 7. The composition according to claim 6, where the fluoroalcohols are selected from,

Rf=fluoroalkyl group C₁-C₈ Y=alkyl or fluoroalkyl spacer group C₁-C₈ Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg=alkyl, X═CF₂, O fluoroalkyl or fluorocycloalkyl, Also, Ra-Re and Rg can be substituted with alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloakyl, fluorocycloalkyl or with a spirofluoroalkyl or spiroalkyl subsituent
 8. The composition of claim 2, where the alkyloxycarbonylalkyl group is selected from t-butyloxycarbonylmethyl, methyl-adamantyloxycarbonylmethyl, t-amyloxycarbonylmethyl, methyl-Inorbornyloxycarbonylmethyl, t-butyloxycarbonyl propyl and t-butyloxycarbonyldifluorobutyl.
 9. The composition of claim 1, where the acid labile group is selected from secondary and tertiary alkyls (up to 20 carbon atoms), acetals and ketals, trimethylsilyl, β-trimethylsilyl substituted alkyls, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, substituted or unsubstituted methoxymethoxycarbonyl, and β-trialkylsilylalkyl.
 10. The composition of claim 1, where the polymer is selected from poly(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol), poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene and poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro-4-trifluoroalkyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene).
 11. The composition of claim 1, where the polymer comprises a mixture of polymers comprising monocyclic units and polymers comprising multicyclic units.
 12. The composition of claim 11, where the mixture is poly(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)propan-2-ol) with poly(1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro 4-trifluoromethyl-4-hydroxy-1,6-heptadiene).
 13. The composition of claim 1, where the composition further comprises a dissolution inhibitor.
 14. The composition of claim 1, where the composition further comprises a base.
 15. The composition of claim 1, where the photoacid generator is selected from diazonium salts, iodonium salts, sulfonium salts, triazines, oxazoles, oxadiazoles, thiazoles, substituted 2-pyrones and phenolic sulfonic esters.
 16. A process for imaging a photoresist composition comprising the steps of: a) forming on a substrate a photoresist coating from the photoresist composition of claim 1; b) image-wise exposing the photoresist coating; c) postexposure baking the photoresist coating; and d) developing the photoresist coating with an aqueous alkaline solution.
 17. The process of claim 16, where the image-wise exposure wavelength is below 200 nm.
 18. The process according to claim 16, where the aqueous alkaline solution comprises tetramethylammonium hydroxide.
 19. The process according to claim 16, where the aqueous alkaline solution further comprises a surfactant. 